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Paradise Entombed
“I have no doubt that Malin will be the death of me. Except I’ll never die. I’ll live in this nightmare forever as his prize.”
Princess Ezrah Varren has only ever wanted three things—freedom, adventure, and ship Captain Tristan Fontaine. For a while, she has them too, but a Varren can’t stay hidden for long. Coveted for her family’s golden hair and shimmering skin, Ezrah finds herself trapped in a landlocked country, forced to marry King Malin Varus, a powerful necromancer known for his unbridled cruelty.
Now, Ezrah must submit to his dark desires and learn what it takes to become not only Malin’s plaything, but his queen. Fortunately, this princess isn’t as innocent or as beautiful as she looks. Hidden beneath her family’s shimmering skin lies a terrible truth that might just be Malin’s undoing.
Paradise Entombed is an adult dark romance that contains mature themes. See the author's website for a complete list of CWs. While this book is primarily an m/f romance, the series itself is WhyChoose.
Princess Ezrah Varren has only ever wanted three things—freedom, adventure, and ship Captain Tristan Fontaine. For a while, she has them too, but a Varren can’t stay hidden for long. Coveted for her family’s golden hair and shimmering skin, Ezrah finds herself trapped in a landlocked country, forced to marry King Malin Varus, a powerful necromancer known for his unbridled cruelty.
Now, Ezrah must submit to his dark desires and learn what it takes to become not only Malin’s plaything, but his queen. Fortunately, this princess isn’t as innocent or as beautiful as she looks. Hidden beneath her family’s shimmering skin lies a terrible truth that might just be Malin’s undoing.
Paradise Entombed is an adult dark romance that contains mature themes. See the author's website for a complete list of CWs. While this book is primarily an m/f romance, the series itself is WhyChoose.
434 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2023
37 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Loren Huxley
3 books41 followersLoren Huxley is a full-time author who loves all things dark—dark fantasy, dark romance, dark chocolate (you get the point!). By seventh grade, she was listening to heavy metal, playing RPGs with her older siblings, and writing horror-themed short stories. By high school, she was sneaking dark romances from her aunt’s favorite bookshelves. When Loren isn’t writing something brutal, she’s playing tabletop games with her husband or cuddling with her two giant dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 4, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up
I almost don’t want to rate this as I liked this author’s other book “They Call Me Blue” a lot and this one had the basis to be good (especially towards the end). But it took ALOT to get there.
My main issues:
The flashbacks led to the emotional impact being lost between Ezra and Malim (fmc and MMC).
Ezra uses “Daddy” waaaay too much.
It’s super unclear if this is going to be a poly relationship based off of the interactions with the fmc or if she’s exercising her trauma through her s@xual relationships.
Malim is a jerk. The fmc goes through a pretty traumatic experience before becoming his wife and then he just retramutizes. He justifies it by saying that she “likes” it. I also know this is a dark romance, but somethings were just beyond even the “romance” realm.
Malim and Ezra’s relationship is super weak by the end of the book, and this wasn’t a short book so I feel like the author could have done a better job with this based on the amount pages she had.
I still don’t see how Tristan and Malim are different by the end of this book, they both treat Ezra the same way. I hope this is addressed in book 2.
I did like that the author isn’t afraid to take risks, but her writing needs to mature more. Which it did for They Call Me Blue, the second book that she released. So I have higher hopes for book 2 in this series.
I almost don’t want to rate this as I liked this author’s other book “They Call Me Blue” a lot and this one had the basis to be good (especially towards the end). But it took ALOT to get there.
My main issues:
The flashbacks led to the emotional impact being lost between Ezra and Malim (fmc and MMC).
Ezra uses “Daddy” waaaay too much.
It’s super unclear if this is going to be a poly relationship based off of the interactions with the fmc or if she’s exercising her trauma through her s@xual relationships.
Malim is a jerk. The fmc goes through a pretty traumatic experience before becoming his wife and then he just retramutizes. He justifies it by saying that she “likes” it. I also know this is a dark romance, but somethings were just beyond even the “romance” realm.
Malim and Ezra’s relationship is super weak by the end of the book, and this wasn’t a short book so I feel like the author could have done a better job with this based on the amount pages she had.
I still don’t see how Tristan and Malim are different by the end of this book, they both treat Ezra the same way. I hope this is addressed in book 2.
I did like that the author isn’t afraid to take risks, but her writing needs to mature more. Which it did for They Call Me Blue, the second book that she released. So I have higher hopes for book 2 in this series.
September 3, 2023
Where to even begin with this book? There is no shortage of spice here, but plenty of plot to go along with it. That can be a really hard balance to pull off for this genre, but it was done so well here. I do love some smut, but I quickly get bored with it if there's nothing else going on. This book had a satisfying amount of both!
I was immediately pulled in the moment I started this book and that did not stop as I kept reading. I'm already counting down days until I can read the next one and this one hasn't released yet.
The concept of the Varren was unique and the magic in this world was subtle, but well done. Malin's powers and his display of them in the dungeon - absolutely loved it. The author does an excellent job of revealing small enough parts of Ezrah's back story to keep you hooked on learning more. I just wanted to be her best friend by the end of this book, girl needs one.
The 🔥spice🔥 was definitely prevalent but by no means did I get sick of it while reading like I have with other books. I also loved that she explained why Ezrah was okay with everything. A lot of dark romances give you a seemingly normal FMC who's suddenly okay with the MMC doing all kinds of things to her and those are hard for me to get into because I can't understand the logic. You absolutely get the logic here the more you read and it gave everything much more depth.
**MILD SPOILERS BELOW
The writing overall was well done, there was just one chapter that I have some complaints on. Nothing takes me out of a story faster than a typo or a grammatical error and unfortunately Malin wore "leather leather loafers" in chapter 18. In the same chapter, Malin talks about a man his sister's age being "a boy really, probably too young to drink", but it's established earlier that Malin's sister is older than him. In chapter 14, it states he is the youngest of his siblings.
*Edit - the author confirmed these have now been corrected!
Overall rating? Giving this 5 stars even with the issues in chapter 18. I am so happy I got chosen for the ARC for this and will be buying it when it fully releases! I really loved this story and can't wait to read what happens next.
I was immediately pulled in the moment I started this book and that did not stop as I kept reading. I'm already counting down days until I can read the next one and this one hasn't released yet.
The concept of the Varren was unique and the magic in this world was subtle, but well done. Malin's powers and his display of them in the dungeon - absolutely loved it. The author does an excellent job of revealing small enough parts of Ezrah's back story to keep you hooked on learning more. I just wanted to be her best friend by the end of this book, girl needs one.
The 🔥spice🔥 was definitely prevalent but by no means did I get sick of it while reading like I have with other books. I also loved that she explained why Ezrah was okay with everything. A lot of dark romances give you a seemingly normal FMC who's suddenly okay with the MMC doing all kinds of things to her and those are hard for me to get into because I can't understand the logic. You absolutely get the logic here the more you read and it gave everything much more depth.
**MILD SPOILERS BELOW
The writing overall was well done, there was just one chapter that I have some complaints on. Nothing takes me out of a story faster than a typo or a grammatical error and unfortunately Malin wore "leather leather loafers" in chapter 18. In the same chapter, Malin talks about a man his sister's age being "a boy really, probably too young to drink", but it's established earlier that Malin's sister is older than him. In chapter 14, it states he is the youngest of his siblings.
*Edit - the author confirmed these have now been corrected!
Overall rating? Giving this 5 stars even with the issues in chapter 18. I am so happy I got chosen for the ARC for this and will be buying it when it fully releases! I really loved this story and can't wait to read what happens next.
September 4, 2023
I have to qualify this review by mentioning that I usually read epic fantasy with a heavy emphasis on character drama, trauma and torture. If the characters suffer, and I can feel their pain while I'm reading, I'm here for it.
What I don't read is romance. Or so I thought. Maybe I just read the wrong kind of romance because it has been a long time since I devoured a book as fast as I did Paradise Entombed! From the smutty first scene that pulls you in (if you like it kinky and smutty and enthusiastic consent isn't a big requirement) to deep diving into the character's heads and traumatic pasts, this book has everything I need to enjoy myself. I'd say, even without the spice, the world-building and character work alone would've kept me interested. But please don't ever lose the spice!
And I know I'm not supposed to like Malin; he's a villain, a bad guy who takes what he wants no matter the consequences, but damn, I need more of him!
I can't wait for the next book in the series. Make it twice as long, give me more Malin chapters, and I'll be happy! Oh, and make it soon, please.
Note: Do definitely heed the warnings at the beginning of the book; they are all necessary. And if you have a vivid imagination that keeps you awake at night, do not read this before bed!
What I don't read is romance. Or so I thought. Maybe I just read the wrong kind of romance because it has been a long time since I devoured a book as fast as I did Paradise Entombed! From the smutty first scene that pulls you in (if you like it kinky and smutty and enthusiastic consent isn't a big requirement) to deep diving into the character's heads and traumatic pasts, this book has everything I need to enjoy myself. I'd say, even without the spice, the world-building and character work alone would've kept me interested. But please don't ever lose the spice!
And I know I'm not supposed to like Malin; he's a villain, a bad guy who takes what he wants no matter the consequences, but damn, I need more of him!
I can't wait for the next book in the series. Make it twice as long, give me more Malin chapters, and I'll be happy! Oh, and make it soon, please.
Note: Do definitely heed the warnings at the beginning of the book; they are all necessary. And if you have a vivid imagination that keeps you awake at night, do not read this before bed!
December 7, 2025
Neat debut novel (and first book in a series) that had a bit too much crammed in there.
While this book was unapologetically 99% smut, there was plot squished in, often via flashbacks or off-hand remarks, that likely matters for future books, but just felt like a distraction in this one.
I'm interested in where this is going, because right now, I'm not even sure who the villains are.
While this book was unapologetically 99% smut, there was plot squished in, often via flashbacks or off-hand remarks, that likely matters for future books, but just felt like a distraction in this one.
I'm interested in where this is going, because right now, I'm not even sure who the villains are.
September 19, 2023
✨ARC Review✨
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
🌶🌶🌶🌶.5 (4.5/5)
"'Beg. I want to hear how desperate you are'...
'Please, may I come'
'Good girl. That wasn't so hard, was it?'".
This story had me in a chokehold! There are so many things I enjoyed about it: spice in the first chapter, amazing world building, pirates, magic, more spice, multiple POVs, and plenty of plot that kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next. Learning about each MC's past became my obsession and I enjoyed every crumb and clue Loren threw my way so I could start putting the pieces together. Ezrah and Malin hold so many secrets from each other and I can't wait to see when they lay all their cards on the table. I am beyond excited for the next book in this series!
Thank you to Loren Huxley for sharing this ARC with me! All opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
🌶🌶🌶🌶.5 (4.5/5)
"'Beg. I want to hear how desperate you are'...
'Please, may I come'
'Good girl. That wasn't so hard, was it?'".
This story had me in a chokehold! There are so many things I enjoyed about it: spice in the first chapter, amazing world building, pirates, magic, more spice, multiple POVs, and plenty of plot that kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next. Learning about each MC's past became my obsession and I enjoyed every crumb and clue Loren threw my way so I could start putting the pieces together. Ezrah and Malin hold so many secrets from each other and I can't wait to see when they lay all their cards on the table. I am beyond excited for the next book in this series!
Thank you to Loren Huxley for sharing this ARC with me! All opinions are my own.
Read
December 3, 2025I read the first chapter of this. It's just not for me. And it probably is a ME thing, but I'm just not really into sex without feelings. Don't get me wrong.... that can even be feelings of insane attraction LOL, but this didn't even take that route.
It starts out with her wanting to jump from the balcony of her shared room with her new husband.
She supposedly doesn't want to consummate the marriage and wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He gets her back in the room, calls her a slut, and starts to berate her over all the partners she's been with (men and women, alike). And her response?
He then precedes to "explore" his new bride and finds her wet and ready.... she concedes to beg him to allow her to climax and does so TWICE.
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It was too much too soon and didn't make any damn sense other than to maybe validate the evil husband's previous conclusion. Maybe she really does just let anyone between her legs...
It starts out with her wanting to jump from the balcony of her shared room with her new husband.
“I'm a necromancer, Ezrah,” he says. “If you jump, I'll bring you back as a construct and you'll have no choice but to obey me. It's better you submit now by choice rather than later by force.”
She supposedly doesn't want to consummate the marriage and wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He gets her back in the room, calls her a slut, and starts to berate her over all the partners she's been with (men and women, alike). And her response?
“You knew?” I ask.
“Of course, I knew. Everyone in Ranada knows you'll let anyone between your legs.”
He then precedes to "explore" his new bride and finds her wet and ready.... she concedes to beg him to allow her to climax and does so TWICE.
[image error]
It was too much too soon and didn't make any damn sense other than to maybe validate the evil husband's previous conclusion. Maybe she really does just let anyone between her legs...
September 1, 2024
A seductive, reverse harem, dark fantasy romance with dazzling world-building, well-crafted plot, and spicy scenes that will make you blush.
The first chapter opens with toe-curling spice and it only gets hotter from there. At her father's command, Princess Ezrah is forced to marry terrifyingly all-powerful necromancer king Malin who wants nothing more than to claim and possess her in every way possible. He fulfills every dark fantasy she's ever had, and those she didn't even dream of. Even as she craves his touch, she hunts for escape and finds an ally in Malin's older mentor Avum. Soft-daddy dom Avum is immediately likeable and enticing, so buckle up.
Each flashback adds new pieces to the puzzle and reveals the twisted histories of the main characters. And then we meet Tristan Fontaine, and the man immediately steals my heart. He's the dark version of the Princess Bride's Wesley, if Wesley was a ruthless pirate captain. The pirate crew ravages the coastline, searching for her and burning any in their path to reclaim her.
It's a non-medieval Europe fantasy with steamy showers, magic light orbs, guns, rudimentary electricity, and enormous aquariums—but it's also not urban fantasy. Magic meets developing technology, setting a stunning backdrop for the twisting betrayals, undeniable desires, and painful secrets.
The ending broke my heart. I want to give it all stars possible, and then more stars. I am always looking for a story with good plot AND good steam, and Huxley delivers. The prose is so well-crafted that I am immediately transported into this world with the sensory details and tension in every scene. It made me feel the entire spectrum of emotion: laughing out loud, sweating nervously, and squealing in delight. I want the next installments immediately.
The first chapter opens with toe-curling spice and it only gets hotter from there. At her father's command, Princess Ezrah is forced to marry terrifyingly all-powerful necromancer king Malin who wants nothing more than to claim and possess her in every way possible. He fulfills every dark fantasy she's ever had, and those she didn't even dream of. Even as she craves his touch, she hunts for escape and finds an ally in Malin's older mentor Avum. Soft-daddy dom Avum is immediately likeable and enticing, so buckle up.
Each flashback adds new pieces to the puzzle and reveals the twisted histories of the main characters. And then we meet Tristan Fontaine, and the man immediately steals my heart. He's the dark version of the Princess Bride's Wesley, if Wesley was a ruthless pirate captain. The pirate crew ravages the coastline, searching for her and burning any in their path to reclaim her.
It's a non-medieval Europe fantasy with steamy showers, magic light orbs, guns, rudimentary electricity, and enormous aquariums—but it's also not urban fantasy. Magic meets developing technology, setting a stunning backdrop for the twisting betrayals, undeniable desires, and painful secrets.
The ending broke my heart. I want to give it all stars possible, and then more stars. I am always looking for a story with good plot AND good steam, and Huxley delivers. The prose is so well-crafted that I am immediately transported into this world with the sensory details and tension in every scene. It made me feel the entire spectrum of emotion: laughing out loud, sweating nervously, and squealing in delight. I want the next installments immediately.
September 4, 2023
Where do I begin? Do you love smut? Dark romance?Do you love well thought out world building? Amazing details? Epic fantasy storytelling? Pirates? This book is for you. Don’t hesitate, you will not regret it. I thought this novel was absolutely amazing! I loved the story, the spice, the layers of character development, THE LORE, everything about this book was pretty spot on. I’ve read several books with a laundry list of trigger warnings at the beginning only to be let down in the end. This list delivered. When I tell you “head the warnings,” I’m not lying. I’m stoked for more and I can’t wait for release day when I can purchase my trophy copy. 🥰 When does book two drop again? 💛🖤
My nit picks: I wish the POV was listed for every chapter and not just the ones that differed from the FMC. Once you got into it a page or so it wasn’t hard to tell who was talking but I did get confused once or twice.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m so happy to have been chosen for the ARC! Thank you so much for this opportunity and the amazing read! I absolutely devoured this novel! 10/10 would read again.
My nit picks: I wish the POV was listed for every chapter and not just the ones that differed from the FMC. Once you got into it a page or so it wasn’t hard to tell who was talking but I did get confused once or twice.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m so happy to have been chosen for the ARC! Thank you so much for this opportunity and the amazing read! I absolutely devoured this novel! 10/10 would read again.
September 3, 2023
Loren Huxley breaks barriers with her debut novel. She wastes no time getting into the spice in the first chapter and only escalating from there. As I read I found myself asking “Am I into this?” And to finish only a few sentences thinking “Holy shit, I’m into this!” Her spice evolves throughout the book, becoming darker, kinkier and more surprising than you could imagine.
Ezrah Varren is a character you can root and lust for. A woman who embodies sass, sex and bratty-ness with an intriguing history, dilemma, and goal. When she changes POV, Loren treats her other characters just as well and delivers perplexing characters with vast emotion and motivations. In just one book she brings a catalogue of interesting characters that are far beyond “morally grey”.
My only complaint is that we have to wait for the next book.
Paradise Entombed should be on your bookshelf, and Loren Huxley should be on your favorites list.
Ezrah Varren is a character you can root and lust for. A woman who embodies sass, sex and bratty-ness with an intriguing history, dilemma, and goal. When she changes POV, Loren treats her other characters just as well and delivers perplexing characters with vast emotion and motivations. In just one book she brings a catalogue of interesting characters that are far beyond “morally grey”.
My only complaint is that we have to wait for the next book.
Paradise Entombed should be on your bookshelf, and Loren Huxley should be on your favorites list.
September 20, 2023
Oh boy, this book is deliciously dark! I could not put this book down. I went in pretty blind, as I usually do, only knowing something about shadow daddy and pirates. I was not disappointed.
It’s fast paced, spice from chapter one. While this book is spicy in the best way possible, the plot is also fantastic. I was never sure what was coming and the tension had me saying one more page.
If I say shadow daddy 3 times will Malin appear? Wow, just wow. Absolutely perfect dark delicious shadow daddy, where can I get one?
Definitely recommend and I can’t wait for the next book!
It’s fast paced, spice from chapter one. While this book is spicy in the best way possible, the plot is also fantastic. I was never sure what was coming and the tension had me saying one more page.
If I say shadow daddy 3 times will Malin appear? Wow, just wow. Absolutely perfect dark delicious shadow daddy, where can I get one?
Definitely recommend and I can’t wait for the next book!
December 15, 2023
Interesting premise but the author tries too hard to be mysterious and it leads to a jumbled mess with discombobulating flashbacks and POVs.
September 19, 2023
Paradise Entombed
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Topes:
~ Morally Grey MMC
~Spice
~Mysterious Characters
~ Pirates
~Magic
~DARK Romance
*CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Review:
WELL- I started reading this on 9/17 and finished it on 9/18. THIS was everything I needed to read this weekend. There was spice right from the beginning and I was here for it. It’s been a minute since I read something with this dark of a MMC, and I will be continuing with reading what I can with dark MMC’s. I could feel myself heading into a slump after finishing Fourth Wing , and Paradise Entombed quickly brought me out of it. This one gets all the stars! The story itself was great, even though I was left on a cliffhanger…The spice was everything I didn’t know that I needed.
Seriously though, check the trigger warnings before reading 😊
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Topes:
~ Morally Grey MMC
~Spice
~Mysterious Characters
~ Pirates
~Magic
~DARK Romance
*CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Review:
WELL- I started reading this on 9/17 and finished it on 9/18. THIS was everything I needed to read this weekend. There was spice right from the beginning and I was here for it. It’s been a minute since I read something with this dark of a MMC, and I will be continuing with reading what I can with dark MMC’s. I could feel myself heading into a slump after finishing Fourth Wing , and Paradise Entombed quickly brought me out of it. This one gets all the stars! The story itself was great, even though I was left on a cliffhanger…The spice was everything I didn’t know that I needed.
Seriously though, check the trigger warnings before reading 😊
September 9, 2023
I loved the different storyline. It was unique and creative. Honestly, it was a lot spicier than I was expecting, and there were some aspects that reminded me of the Ann Rice Sleeping beauty trilogy, with a mashup of other fairytales told with a darker more sinister vibe. I don’t know I feel about Malin. Is he a tortured hero, a sadistic sociopath, or just misunderstood? I have no idea. The author does a great job of making you love and hate him. Then we have Ezzy, her story is all over the place. It was somewhat hard to keep up with at times when it bounced between timelines and characters but I got the gist of it, and let me just say, she deserves the world. It felt pretty fast paced from the beginning and the story didn’t waste much time jumping into the steamy scenes. I would suggest checking trigger warnings if you know you have them because this story did have a darker theme to it which extends into the spicy bits. I will say, that cliffhanger at the end hit hard.
September 7, 2023
I was given an ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.
I've been waiting for the cover reveal before I posted my review.
My god is this book spicy. The Princess Bride meets ACOTAR meets Haunting Adeline. Smut from chapter 1 and if you're not comfortable with dubc0n/nonc0n, b0ndage or humiliation/degradation turn back now as this book is not for you. The TW list is as long as your arm make sure you read it as it's a lot.
We're thrown straight into the action Ezrah has been sold off and married to Malin whilst her past love is waging war to get her back. This fantasy world is dark and cutthroat. The intrigue and mystery is top tier and I can't wait for it to further unfold in book 2. It has all the feels from unease to anger to sadness to love and the spice is off the chart.
I've been waiting for the cover reveal before I posted my review.
My god is this book spicy. The Princess Bride meets ACOTAR meets Haunting Adeline. Smut from chapter 1 and if you're not comfortable with dubc0n/nonc0n, b0ndage or humiliation/degradation turn back now as this book is not for you. The TW list is as long as your arm make sure you read it as it's a lot.
We're thrown straight into the action Ezrah has been sold off and married to Malin whilst her past love is waging war to get her back. This fantasy world is dark and cutthroat. The intrigue and mystery is top tier and I can't wait for it to further unfold in book 2. It has all the feels from unease to anger to sadness to love and the spice is off the chart.
September 7, 2023
I received this book as an ARC and was absolutely blown away! The world Loren has created is one I cannot even wait to delve into in future books. I feel like I barely scratched the surface. The characters drew me in, multi-layered and compelling.
A dark romance with elements of magic, pirates, tortured pasts, royalty, vendettas, and self-discovery. Oh and those spicy scenes are next level.
Loved it, can’t wait for the next one!
A dark romance with elements of magic, pirates, tortured pasts, royalty, vendettas, and self-discovery. Oh and those spicy scenes are next level.
Loved it, can’t wait for the next one!
September 23, 2023
Where to begin? This book was way more than I asked for, but I am glad I did not ask for all of it. This book was wild and trippy. We first meet her standing on the balcony about to jump off. She throws her crown and she’s not happy about this marriage that she’s a part of then we meet her husband and he’s not all that he’s just ugh and then we really get deeper into how everything came to be. This book I gave it a five and I loved it and it wasn’t about the torture or anything like that. It was the backstory as it was the double timeline. It was everything and more. The book had me going and I did not want to stop I was like oh my goddess how and why and where but then we got to know his backstory and I loved that part even more, I was like thank you for this and you know I even I sent Loren a message and said, thank you for the double time line because I loved it. And the timelines made everything; now the Dad straight jerk, the man that she wanted to be with just wow, her husband now double wow and it’s just amazing of all things that happened. Now I low-key think that she has some ties with the water of being a mermaid or a siren, and that is totally cool, because I absolutely love that genre of lifestyle and fantasy, but I’m looking forward to knowing more. Loren left me with this cliffhanger, and I was not happy about that but I’m excited because book 2 is going to be on its way soon and it’s going to give me so much more than you think. If you are into the fantasy and in the dark romantic, you are wanting to be on edge not knowing what’s happening next, this book is for you. Yeah, that I mean that’s really all I can say without giving too much of a spoiler of what happens but this book was great. Amazing perfection. Thank you, Loren.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2023
A quick, indulgent, read for dark fantasy romance fans.
Loren delivers intricate world building, unique characters, and SPICY romance in equal parts from start to finish. The main characters are well thought out, and Malin? Malin, is deliciously "morally gray".
There are multiple points of view, and different timelines throughout the book. I want a map and some family trees!
My only complaint is that the second installment isn't out yet and I need to see how the story continues! The ending has me eagerly awaiting book #2.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/ 5
** I am grateful to have received an ARC of Paradise Entombed. As with any dark romance, please check trigger warnings prior to diving in. **
Loren delivers intricate world building, unique characters, and SPICY romance in equal parts from start to finish. The main characters are well thought out, and Malin? Malin, is deliciously "morally gray".
There are multiple points of view, and different timelines throughout the book. I want a map and some family trees!
My only complaint is that the second installment isn't out yet and I need to see how the story continues! The ending has me eagerly awaiting book #2.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/ 5
** I am grateful to have received an ARC of Paradise Entombed. As with any dark romance, please check trigger warnings prior to diving in. **
October 28, 2023
No easing into this book and I'm glad
Ezrah is a beautiful King's daughter wanted by all. She's this prize to be won, but very far from treated like a prize.
She is married off to a horrible prince in a land the complete opposite of what she knows. Can she survive the noodles of her new husband and the cold unforgiving realm she's been whisked off to? Can she solve the history of her sudden engagement? Or is she doomed to be her husbands plaything?
This book was a quick read and not because it was short, but because I couldn't stop reading. Headache, sickness, and no energy to even sit up and I found myself pulled to read this book.
The spice was amazing. The plot kept me entertained throughout. It does leave on a bit of a cliffhanger. I have so many questions and I hope there is a sequel. This could be a series I would have physical copies of. I found it through tiktok and it was on kindle and I am so glad that I took a chance on it. Considering I have been burned on tiktok books before, I was pleasantly surprised that this book was fully thought out, had great character development, had a plot that made sense if you took away the spice, and the spice was phenomenal. Hey definitely recommend that you try this book if you like that dark, magical realm romance!
Ezrah is a beautiful King's daughter wanted by all. She's this prize to be won, but very far from treated like a prize.
She is married off to a horrible prince in a land the complete opposite of what she knows. Can she survive the noodles of her new husband and the cold unforgiving realm she's been whisked off to? Can she solve the history of her sudden engagement? Or is she doomed to be her husbands plaything?
This book was a quick read and not because it was short, but because I couldn't stop reading. Headache, sickness, and no energy to even sit up and I found myself pulled to read this book.
The spice was amazing. The plot kept me entertained throughout. It does leave on a bit of a cliffhanger. I have so many questions and I hope there is a sequel. This could be a series I would have physical copies of. I found it through tiktok and it was on kindle and I am so glad that I took a chance on it. Considering I have been burned on tiktok books before, I was pleasantly surprised that this book was fully thought out, had great character development, had a plot that made sense if you took away the spice, and the spice was phenomenal. Hey definitely recommend that you try this book if you like that dark, magical realm romance!
September 6, 2023
** ARC review - I am so grateful to get the opportunity to read this early. All opinions are my own! **
Loren Huxley's debut novel quite simply blew me away. Dark romances have always been a guilty pleasure of mine, but one I usually don't expect a lot out of. With "Paradise Entombed" I was able to get everything I love in books: interesting, developed characters, a compelling narrative, a world I want to know everything about and, with dark romances in particular, heavy spice. From the first chapter you know exactly what kind of book this is going to be. A facet that works entirely to the novel's favor. The surprises along the way were believable and worked to develop the world rather than anything done for shock value.
Her character's are all unique. Each interaction left me wishing I had their whole story already, even for some of the later introduced side characters. I appreciated how she varied the POVs. I love being able to get into the heads of different characters. However, at times it made the timelines confusing (that could be my lack of reading comprehension, though) and I wish the switch of POVs had happened earlier into the novel. Only because I prefer having relatively equal POVs throughout a story, but the POVs that were included did not do anything to hurt the story. In fact, I loved the development each new POV gave. Malin really grew on me as time went on. Understanding his past, and his past with Ezrah, humanized him in a way that made me excuse all the shitty things he'd done up until then (ha, like I wasn't prepared to do that already). I was a bit surprised by the inclusion of Ezrah's brother as he kind of came out of nowhere, but he also proved to be such a necessary inclusion to the story.
My favorite part of the whole novel had to be the world-building. I'm a sucker for a good fantasy world, and Huxley's simply drew me in. Her writing style perfectly complimented the world she'd developed. It could also just be my intense love for pirates - Look, y'all, I know I shouldn't like as much as I do, but I've got such a thing for what I imagined the entire time as a darker version of Westley from "The Princess Bride." But it wasn't just hot pirates that made me love the world so much. I truly loved the descriptions of the ships, the crews' uniforms, and Ezrah's desire to be at sea. Each time Ezrah described the ocean or the beach I fell in love with it a little bit more. If that doesn't speak to Huxley's ability to craft a world, I don't know what will.
The only gripe I have is that the second book isn't going to be able to come soon enough. I want to know what happens!! I have so many questions left unanswered.
Thank you so much for letting me read this, Loren!! I can't wait to see what else you've got in store :)
Loren Huxley's debut novel quite simply blew me away. Dark romances have always been a guilty pleasure of mine, but one I usually don't expect a lot out of. With "Paradise Entombed" I was able to get everything I love in books: interesting, developed characters, a compelling narrative, a world I want to know everything about and, with dark romances in particular, heavy spice. From the first chapter you know exactly what kind of book this is going to be. A facet that works entirely to the novel's favor. The surprises along the way were believable and worked to develop the world rather than anything done for shock value.
Her character's are all unique. Each interaction left me wishing I had their whole story already, even for some of the later introduced side characters. I appreciated how she varied the POVs. I love being able to get into the heads of different characters. However, at times it made the timelines confusing (that could be my lack of reading comprehension, though) and I wish the switch of POVs had happened earlier into the novel. Only because I prefer having relatively equal POVs throughout a story, but the POVs that were included did not do anything to hurt the story. In fact, I loved the development each new POV gave. Malin really grew on me as time went on. Understanding his past, and his past with Ezrah, humanized him in a way that made me excuse all the shitty things he'd done up until then (ha, like I wasn't prepared to do that already). I was a bit surprised by the inclusion of Ezrah's brother as he kind of came out of nowhere, but he also proved to be such a necessary inclusion to the story.
My favorite part of the whole novel had to be the world-building. I'm a sucker for a good fantasy world, and Huxley's simply drew me in. Her writing style perfectly complimented the world she'd developed. It could also just be my intense love for pirates - Look, y'all, I know I shouldn't like as much as I do, but I've got such a thing for what I imagined the entire time as a darker version of Westley from "The Princess Bride." But it wasn't just hot pirates that made me love the world so much. I truly loved the descriptions of the ships, the crews' uniforms, and Ezrah's desire to be at sea. Each time Ezrah described the ocean or the beach I fell in love with it a little bit more. If that doesn't speak to Huxley's ability to craft a world, I don't know what will.
The only gripe I have is that the second book isn't going to be able to come soon enough. I want to know what happens!! I have so many questions left unanswered.
Thank you so much for letting me read this, Loren!! I can't wait to see what else you've got in store :)
September 12, 2023
Read trigger warnings before indulging yourself with reading this book
Paradise Entombed intrigued me with its premise, hooked me with its prologue and the story enticed me. But, unfortunately, for me, somewhere in the middle and then towards end there was something amiss. It seems that the pacing was off.
It was hard connecting to Ezrah. I know there could be much to her and I bet that would be apparent in the next book (I hope so), but, in this one she's one-dimensional. I think that trying to hide capabilities and who she really is made her character lacking in depth. Meanwhile, it was easier to connect or to get to know the MMC. His complexity added depth to the story . Malin is morally grey but towards the very end he abruptly changes his attitude towards Ezrah.
In terms of world-building, there's room for improvement. Incorporating a map could enhance the reader's understanding and immersion in the story's setting.
Overall, I would describe this novel simply as prolonged prologue setting the stage to an intriguing series. Although I have rated this as such, I see great potential in it. I think there is more to uncover in the next books.
Warning:
This is very dark fantasy romance novel. If you are new to dark romance fantasy or would like to try your hand at one, I would recommend for you to not start with this one. There are other "lighter" dark fantasy romances that could help you ease into this genre. Be sure to read all trigger warnings provided by the author and if any of those makes you uncomfortable, walk away.
Thank you to Loren for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review has been written willing fully.
Since I read a proof copy of the book any grammatical errors did not impact the rating.
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My Rating and Spice Scale:
5⭐ The book is perfect! I love everything about it
4.5⭐ I love the book and would highly recommend it. There might still be something small that I want from the book
4⭐It was entertaining. Not perfect but it hooked me big time. I would recommend it to anyone
3.5⭐ I liked the book but I have issues with some things. I would recommend it to those who enjoys the specific genre, writing style or author
3⭐ A not so bad book. I neither disliked or liked the book. It just didn't connect with me. I would recommend with reservations
2⭐ I had a hard time finishing the book. It's not for me and wouldn't recommend it
1⭐ I don't like it at all and would not recommend
September 6, 2023
Story- 5
Spice- 4.4
Darkness - 3.9(I have read a lot darker. The themes are still dark, but I personally would rate this dark grey from white to pitch black)
Heartwarming/ heartbreaking - 4
Revenge - none yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing karma
FMC - 4.5 (Ezrah isn't quite a 5* for me yet. She still has a lot of growing to do, but she is amazing and so strong and brave to have endured what she has)
MMC - 5 (Malin funny, sarcastic, commanding, dark,twisted, and depraved but with and heart hidden beneath it all)
Anticipation - 5 (I need the sequel now)
(Can I just say it has been such an honour to be an Arch reader.)
Pirates,Kings,Queens,enchanting creatures, a dark broody MMC, and a broken, caged FMC fighting for her freedom and a whole lot of spice . What more and a girl want?!
This book gripped me from the start. who is this girl, and what is she running from that has her ready to leap from a balcony to her death on the very first page?
I have loved the epic, original, and eccentric world building, I have never read of character with these abilities. FMC that bleeds gold and has skin like precious gems, I have never heard of moon touched before. I have loved the creative world that the author has written.
I did struggle with the character POV at times it took me a while to figure out which character I was reading as but once I got the hang of it, I ate this book up. I loved how Lauren Huxley explain why Ezrah reacts the way she does to the depraved things Malin does to her, she showed us that she was conditioned to enjoy it and that Ezrah isn't a sweet innocent virgin. She is a strong, beautiful woman proud of her sexuality.
I can't wait for the sequel. I need to know what happens next:
• Will Tristan find Ezrah?
• Why is Ezrah hearing voices?
• Will Ezrah get her revenge?
• What is Malins full back story?
• Will there be a HEA?
• What does the future hold?
• Will Ezrah break the curse?
• What will happen with Avum?
• What happened to Tristan?
These are just some of the questions I have. As the story progresses, you get 5 new questions to everyone that is answered, and I need answers like yesterday. I am going to be on tender hooks waiting for the sequel. My prediction is that this series is going to become a favourite of mine.
To sum up, I loved this book and will be waiting impatiently for the rest of the series to follow.
Spice- 4.4
Darkness - 3.9(I have read a lot darker. The themes are still dark, but I personally would rate this dark grey from white to pitch black)
Heartwarming/ heartbreaking - 4
Revenge - none yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing karma
FMC - 4.5 (Ezrah isn't quite a 5* for me yet. She still has a lot of growing to do, but she is amazing and so strong and brave to have endured what she has)
MMC - 5 (Malin funny, sarcastic, commanding, dark,twisted, and depraved but with and heart hidden beneath it all)
Anticipation - 5 (I need the sequel now)
(Can I just say it has been such an honour to be an Arch reader.)
Pirates,Kings,Queens,enchanting creatures, a dark broody MMC, and a broken, caged FMC fighting for her freedom and a whole lot of spice . What more and a girl want?!
This book gripped me from the start. who is this girl, and what is she running from that has her ready to leap from a balcony to her death on the very first page?
I have loved the epic, original, and eccentric world building, I have never read of character with these abilities. FMC that bleeds gold and has skin like precious gems, I have never heard of moon touched before. I have loved the creative world that the author has written.
I did struggle with the character POV at times it took me a while to figure out which character I was reading as but once I got the hang of it, I ate this book up. I loved how Lauren Huxley explain why Ezrah reacts the way she does to the depraved things Malin does to her, she showed us that she was conditioned to enjoy it and that Ezrah isn't a sweet innocent virgin. She is a strong, beautiful woman proud of her sexuality.
I can't wait for the sequel. I need to know what happens next:
• Will Tristan find Ezrah?
• Why is Ezrah hearing voices?
• Will Ezrah get her revenge?
• What is Malins full back story?
• Will there be a HEA?
• What does the future hold?
• Will Ezrah break the curse?
• What will happen with Avum?
• What happened to Tristan?
These are just some of the questions I have. As the story progresses, you get 5 new questions to everyone that is answered, and I need answers like yesterday. I am going to be on tender hooks waiting for the sequel. My prediction is that this series is going to become a favourite of mine.
To sum up, I loved this book and will be waiting impatiently for the rest of the series to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
"Paradise Entombed" proved to be quite the unique experience, offering a dark romance infused with elements of necromancy and piracy. The promise of a swashbuckling heroine took an unexpected turn with Ezrah, who, unfortunately, didn't quite resonate with me. Much of her character growth seemed tethered to a lost relationship, and her journey lacked the healing one might anticipate. While I sense there's more to unfold in the story, Ezrah wasn't my favorite protagonist.
Tristian, on the other hand, didn't do much to endear himself—quite the opposite.
Enter Malin, a character who emerged as my favorite amidst the cast. Despite this, the overall lack of significant character growth across the board was noticeable. The narrative seems to lean more heavily on the unique plot rather than the personal development of its characters.
The spice level, while present, leaned towards ironic humor rather than intense passion, especially in scenes like the one set in the prison.
"Paradise Entombed" beckons readers seeking a plot-driven narrative with a difference. If you can overlook characters who don't undergo significant growth but appreciate good humor and intriguing plot elements, this book might be worth exploring.
In conclusion, Loren Huxley's "Paradise Entombed" offers a distinctive blend of dark romance, necromancy, and piracy, providing a narrative driven more by its unique plot than the evolution of its characters. It's an enjoyable read for those who prioritize humor and plot intricacies over character growth.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
"Paradise Entombed" proved to be quite the unique experience, offering a dark romance infused with elements of necromancy and piracy. The promise of a swashbuckling heroine took an unexpected turn with Ezrah, who, unfortunately, didn't quite resonate with me. Much of her character growth seemed tethered to a lost relationship, and her journey lacked the healing one might anticipate. While I sense there's more to unfold in the story, Ezrah wasn't my favorite protagonist.
Tristian, on the other hand, didn't do much to endear himself—quite the opposite.
Enter Malin, a character who emerged as my favorite amidst the cast. Despite this, the overall lack of significant character growth across the board was noticeable. The narrative seems to lean more heavily on the unique plot rather than the personal development of its characters.
The spice level, while present, leaned towards ironic humor rather than intense passion, especially in scenes like the one set in the prison.
"Paradise Entombed" beckons readers seeking a plot-driven narrative with a difference. If you can overlook characters who don't undergo significant growth but appreciate good humor and intriguing plot elements, this book might be worth exploring.
In conclusion, Loren Huxley's "Paradise Entombed" offers a distinctive blend of dark romance, necromancy, and piracy, providing a narrative driven more by its unique plot than the evolution of its characters. It's an enjoyable read for those who prioritize humor and plot intricacies over character growth.
September 11, 2023
ARC review (advance reader copy - I was given the book for free in exchange for my honest opinion on review sites and pages as well as my own book Instagram account - this is 100% my own opinion and not influenced at all by anyone else!)
I love fantasy and if that fantasy is a little dark, with some spice then great! But this is the first book I've read with THIS much spice in! This is not for the prudish! And I mean really! It is enough to make you blush as you read! But it's excellent, I mean really it is an amazing book!
Whilst the book is hot as hot chilli peppers, it isn't just smut for the sake of it, it fits within the story which is well structured and planned, intricate and fascinating. I got into the story very quickly, and found it hard to put it down.
If I had to say one thing that I wasn't overly keen of, I guess the degrading use of the C word repeatedly wasn't overly my thing but it didn't stop me loving the story!
There are tropes within the dark fantasy/dark romance genre that go well alongside each other, the main characters are highly flawed and damaged people who against it all find whatever comfort they can with each other.
I found myself rooting for the two main characters despite all of the many (and I mean many) reasons why I should have been very against him in every way! I guess morally grey has shifted to morally almost black? But I can't explain it, I want them to be endgame!
I absolutely cannot wait for book two, and since this isn't officially even released yet, that's going to be one long wait!! Loren, type faster please!! :)
I love fantasy and if that fantasy is a little dark, with some spice then great! But this is the first book I've read with THIS much spice in! This is not for the prudish! And I mean really! It is enough to make you blush as you read! But it's excellent, I mean really it is an amazing book!
Whilst the book is hot as hot chilli peppers, it isn't just smut for the sake of it, it fits within the story which is well structured and planned, intricate and fascinating. I got into the story very quickly, and found it hard to put it down.
If I had to say one thing that I wasn't overly keen of, I guess the degrading use of the C word repeatedly wasn't overly my thing but it didn't stop me loving the story!
There are tropes within the dark fantasy/dark romance genre that go well alongside each other, the main characters are highly flawed and damaged people who against it all find whatever comfort they can with each other.
I found myself rooting for the two main characters despite all of the many (and I mean many) reasons why I should have been very against him in every way! I guess morally grey has shifted to morally almost black? But I can't explain it, I want them to be endgame!
I absolutely cannot wait for book two, and since this isn't officially even released yet, that's going to be one long wait!! Loren, type faster please!! :)
September 12, 2023
Absolutely phenomenally superb.
This one completely blew me away in the BEST way.
And once I started it, I didn't stop (at all) until the final word.
This (to me) does not read like a debut novel, it reads like a perfectly polished gem: the excellent world building, the mesmerizing & beautifully complex characters that shine, the sizzling er0tic scenes with a plot that equals the best medieval Machiavellian scenarios.
And (again, to me) the perfection of all the above points: the author doesn't lay this all out at once but instead gives the reader bits of the puzzle, one piece at a time that slowly, wonderfully, builds a continuing picture that subtly but unfailingly crumbles the reader's preconceptions. And so, by the end of the book, the reader realizes very little, if anything, is what they initially thought it to be.
And the character development, from the MMC & MFC, to the secondary & supporting characters, are fascinating, complex & superb. Every single character held my interest throughout the entire story & I found myself startled & downright shocked numerous times.
There are hidden agendas, betrayals, epiphanies, villainous cruelty, sizzling scenes that scorch. But ALL of this wrapped within this story that swirled me away into the author's world from the first word to the last.
This one is dark, beautifully complex, superbly structured & written, wonderfully magical.
I found this one to be a perfectly magical journey into another world.
Simply wonderful.
This one completely blew me away in the BEST way.
And once I started it, I didn't stop (at all) until the final word.
This (to me) does not read like a debut novel, it reads like a perfectly polished gem: the excellent world building, the mesmerizing & beautifully complex characters that shine, the sizzling er0tic scenes with a plot that equals the best medieval Machiavellian scenarios.
And (again, to me) the perfection of all the above points: the author doesn't lay this all out at once but instead gives the reader bits of the puzzle, one piece at a time that slowly, wonderfully, builds a continuing picture that subtly but unfailingly crumbles the reader's preconceptions. And so, by the end of the book, the reader realizes very little, if anything, is what they initially thought it to be.
And the character development, from the MMC & MFC, to the secondary & supporting characters, are fascinating, complex & superb. Every single character held my interest throughout the entire story & I found myself startled & downright shocked numerous times.
There are hidden agendas, betrayals, epiphanies, villainous cruelty, sizzling scenes that scorch. But ALL of this wrapped within this story that swirled me away into the author's world from the first word to the last.
This one is dark, beautifully complex, superbly structured & written, wonderfully magical.
I found this one to be a perfectly magical journey into another world.
Simply wonderful.
November 2, 2023
OK this book took me completely by surprise. I went into it blind and vaguely thinking it was something else but boy was I wrong! One thing to note is that there is a lot going on in the book and a lot of the pieces have not been put together yet, at least not for me. The book ends on a cliffhanger leaving you with so many questions. It's a multiple POV with some past & present chapters. It's these time switches that really bring the changes in our MCs, Malin & Ezrah, personalities to the forefront. Malin is all darkness, if you're picturing Shadow Daddy then you're nailing it, and Ezrah is depicted as light (literally...golden hair and blindingly golden shimmering skin). But her life has not been light at all. We really start to get a glimpse into what and who has made her the way she is near the end of the book and some things start to slot into place. I feel like this book was really just setting the stage for some real intense follow ups. Do not get me wrong this book was INTENSE, the spice is through the roof starting us off right in chapter 1 and it does not slow down. There is a lot of powerful situations so check your triggers.
Learning this was Loren's debut novel was a bit of a shock it was really well written and the character development was intricate. In a book full of villains I was having a really hard time disliking many of them but I definitely dislike her family. I must learn more about Tristan Fontaine, and what went wrong. Why is the ocean speaking to Ezrah? I mean I have my theories but I won't voice them here.
I did not find a dull moment in this book, being hooked from the get go and leaving me with enough questions and theories to be dying to read the next one. I hope the wait isn't too long!
Learning this was Loren's debut novel was a bit of a shock it was really well written and the character development was intricate. In a book full of villains I was having a really hard time disliking many of them but I definitely dislike her family. I must learn more about Tristan Fontaine, and what went wrong. Why is the ocean speaking to Ezrah? I mean I have my theories but I won't voice them here.
I did not find a dull moment in this book, being hooked from the get go and leaving me with enough questions and theories to be dying to read the next one. I hope the wait isn't too long!
March 3, 2025
Paradise Entombed is a well-written dark romance with lots of spice, a strong cast of morally complex and unique characters, and actual attention paid to its worldbuilding and plot. Much like with Zara J Black's books, I really appreciated that Paradise Entombed gives readers something to enjoy beyond sex scenes and romance. There's a lot here for fantasy fans too.
The one thing that pulled my rating down from a five to a four was the pacing and narrative order. The order of details left me kind of unmoored for a good part of the story, wondering who people were, what was going on, and why certain things were significant.
Even the first chapter, which launches right into a dark spicy scene, lost a lot of its impact for me because I rely heavily on context and my understanding of characters and situations to feel a real impact, whether I'm dealing with plot points or sex scenes. By the time the novel ended, I felt like I was just starting to get my footing. Which does lead me to believe I'd enjoy the other books in the series more, at least.
Regardless of its flaws, Paradise Entombed still stands out in the fantasy dark romance genre. As someone who isn't actually a big fan of romance, I'd love to see what Loren Huxley did with an erotic dark fantasy novel (though I'm sure this will never happen; a girl can dream).
The one thing that pulled my rating down from a five to a four was the pacing and narrative order. The order of details left me kind of unmoored for a good part of the story, wondering who people were, what was going on, and why certain things were significant.
Even the first chapter, which launches right into a dark spicy scene, lost a lot of its impact for me because I rely heavily on context and my understanding of characters and situations to feel a real impact, whether I'm dealing with plot points or sex scenes. By the time the novel ended, I felt like I was just starting to get my footing. Which does lead me to believe I'd enjoy the other books in the series more, at least.
Regardless of its flaws, Paradise Entombed still stands out in the fantasy dark romance genre. As someone who isn't actually a big fan of romance, I'd love to see what Loren Huxley did with an erotic dark fantasy novel (though I'm sure this will never happen; a girl can dream).
dnf-or-nfm
September 22, 2023while I had no fault for the writing and will probably check out other works by this author, I had to DNF after about ~12% because the tone, setup, and progress of the romance was personally turning me off, and I knew I probably couldn't get past it. Spoilers/safety info (from the first 12% at least):
October 1, 2023
4.5 rounded up for review purposes
This was a wonderfully spicy, intriguing read that I couldn't put down once I started.
When we first meet the FMC, Ezrah, she's ready to unalive herself. She hates feeling like a pawn to be used in whatever way others deem fit, and yearns for freedom from her gilded cage.
Malin, her husband, is determined to break her to do his bidding whenever he pleases and mold her into a queen fit for his kingdom.
With no one to trust, Ezrah must learn to navigate the politics of a court she never thought she would be queen to, while remaining hidden from a certain ship Captain that will stop at nothing to get her back.
Please note this is a dark fantasy romance, so absolutely check your TW before diving in. With that said, there is quite a lot of smut scenes in this book, and as much as the characters had me going "WTF?", it also had me questioning myself at times 👀😅 I cannot wait to read book two, as I'd love to see what will happen once Ezrah and Malin finally lay all their cards on the table, as well as the ten other questions I was left with after that ending.
This was a wonderfully spicy, intriguing read that I couldn't put down once I started.
When we first meet the FMC, Ezrah, she's ready to unalive herself. She hates feeling like a pawn to be used in whatever way others deem fit, and yearns for freedom from her gilded cage.
Malin, her husband, is determined to break her to do his bidding whenever he pleases and mold her into a queen fit for his kingdom.
With no one to trust, Ezrah must learn to navigate the politics of a court she never thought she would be queen to, while remaining hidden from a certain ship Captain that will stop at nothing to get her back.
Please note this is a dark fantasy romance, so absolutely check your TW before diving in. With that said, there is quite a lot of smut scenes in this book, and as much as the characters had me going "WTF?", it also had me questioning myself at times 👀😅 I cannot wait to read book two, as I'd love to see what will happen once Ezrah and Malin finally lay all their cards on the table, as well as the ten other questions I was left with after that ending.
May 19, 2024
Why arent you reading this
You might think you know whats coming BUT YOU WILL BE WRONG!
What I loved.... "All is not what it seems"vibes! my fav type of read.
Refreshing FMC in a dark romance thats more than a door mat of fluid candy. A maturely crafted writers understanding of who really is the power owner in submission play - In the unravelling dark juicy book twists.
Whats attractive is the pitch black and morally grey are not reedemed as we page turn. We instead get inside that inner sanctum & get see their world and point of view at key pivotal points of betrayal,belief system or chaos - its a wildaf ride & so much more statisfying.. Dont get distracted and sit back... by the smut thats a clever lil trick... buckle up biatches as the plot kicks in takes you on adventure of epic proportions.
Pirates,Mages,Obessessielove,youmeansomethingtomethatfightsthelonelinessinme,Pussypower,Tentacles,Darktriggers,exposureonslavery&manipulation and everything thats wrong with an Alphaholes.
Ive got a lil crush on Avum.. Oh &..I really loved that skin shimmering glowly skin in the world building - hiding so much darkness.
Jasmin E Reads
You might think you know whats coming BUT YOU WILL BE WRONG!
What I loved.... "All is not what it seems"vibes! my fav type of read.
Refreshing FMC in a dark romance thats more than a door mat of fluid candy. A maturely crafted writers understanding of who really is the power owner in submission play - In the unravelling dark juicy book twists.
Whats attractive is the pitch black and morally grey are not reedemed as we page turn. We instead get inside that inner sanctum & get see their world and point of view at key pivotal points of betrayal,belief system or chaos - its a wildaf ride & so much more statisfying.. Dont get distracted and sit back... by the smut thats a clever lil trick... buckle up biatches as the plot kicks in takes you on adventure of epic proportions.
Pirates,Mages,Obessessielove,youmeansomethingtomethatfightsthelonelinessinme,Pussypower,Tentacles,Darktriggers,exposureonslavery&manipulation and everything thats wrong with an Alphaholes.
Ive got a lil crush on Avum.. Oh &..I really loved that skin shimmering glowly skin in the world building - hiding so much darkness.
Jasmin E Reads
September 17, 2023
✨ARC Review✨
Plot 5/5
Spice 4.5/5
From the very first page this book had me hooked! I kept wanting to understand more and more about each character and it was hard to put it down! The world building was insane in the best way, the imagery that Loren put into words made it so easy to see! This book has it all, from world building, to feeling the characters emotions. It has pirates, magic, love, spice, everything!
Straight off the jump I was weak kneed for Malin, the MMC in the story. Say what want, but we all love a morally grey MMC who’s just misunderstood 🖤
Ezrah’s story (the FMC) is heartbreaking, and I can’t wait to see how she overcomes it all. She was also very easy to connect to, although sometimes I wish she would open her eyes to things going on around her, but her background makes that difficult.
The twists and turns in both of the MCs story lines were mind blowing, and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds as the story continues!
I received an ARC for this book and I am posting an honest and voluntary review. My opinions are my own 💕
Plot 5/5
Spice 4.5/5
From the very first page this book had me hooked! I kept wanting to understand more and more about each character and it was hard to put it down! The world building was insane in the best way, the imagery that Loren put into words made it so easy to see! This book has it all, from world building, to feeling the characters emotions. It has pirates, magic, love, spice, everything!
Straight off the jump I was weak kneed for Malin, the MMC in the story. Say what want, but we all love a morally grey MMC who’s just misunderstood 🖤
Ezrah’s story (the FMC) is heartbreaking, and I can’t wait to see how she overcomes it all. She was also very easy to connect to, although sometimes I wish she would open her eyes to things going on around her, but her background makes that difficult.
The twists and turns in both of the MCs story lines were mind blowing, and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds as the story continues!
I received an ARC for this book and I am posting an honest and voluntary review. My opinions are my own 💕
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